The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, is to rule on planning permission for a €1 billion commercial development in London involving John Mulryan's Ballymore group.
Along with UK-based Hammerson, Ballymore is involved in a high-profile plan to develop one of the UK capital’s largest brownfield sites, with the project already having sparked massive local opposition from those who believe the development will ruin a historic part of the city.
The mayor has now used his power to “call in” the project, following a request that he do so from the developers behind the 10-acre site at Shoreditch. Revised plans for the site were submitted to the boroughs of Hackney and Tower Hamlets earlier this year, following criticisms of designs submitted last year. The mayor is allowed intervene if an application has not been determined within 16 weeks of being submitted.
“More than a year ago an application was submitted to the local authorities and a formal request has now been made to the mayor to take over as planning authority,” a spokesman for Mr Johnson said.
“Bishopsgate Goodsyard, which has stood derelict for over 50 years, is the biggest site around Tech City in east London and would create hundreds of jobs and homes for Londoners. The mayor has decided to call in the application and will consider all of the planning issues before taking a decision in due course.”
The Canary Wharf-type project would see 1,350 homes and more than 56,000sq m of office space being built, as well as a 2.4 acre “elevated park”.
Hammerson – a member of the consortiums in the final shake-up for Nama’s Project Jewel – and Ballymore have been working on the project since 2003 and have been trying to satisfy the demands of the two councils as well as numerous
local groups anxious to preserve the trendy character that Shoreditch has taken on despite, or because of, its underdevelopment.
The positive response from the mayor’s office is welcome news for Ballymore.
“The mayor, having already positively acknowledged the changes that have been made to the scheme, has recognised the major strategic significance of the site with its complex interfaces between two boroughs and has decided to determine the application himself,” Mr Mulryan said.
The Goodsyard is one of London’s most challenging regeneration schemes, he said. Hackney’s mayor, Jules Pipe, has said he is disgusted by Mr Johnson’s move, which he said showed disregard for local residents and businesses.
Mr Mulryan told the Oireachtas banking inquiry earlier this year that Ballymore would pay back the €2.2 billion in debt that was moved to Nama from the Irish banks.
